Fire extinguisher



Aug. 29, 1939. D. R. WHEELER 1 ,171,4 7

FIRE EXTINGUISHER Filed Oct. 11, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS Aug. 29, 1939. WHEELER 2,171,487

FIRE EXTINGUISHER Filed Oct. 11, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 RWIZQZZW INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 29, 1939 UNITED STATE FIRE EXTINGUISHEB Dock R. Wheeler, Lake Charles, La. Application October 11, 1937, Serial No. 168,469

The invention relates to a fire extinguishing system and more especially to a combined fire alarm and fire extinguishing apparatus.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus of this character, wherein through installation of the same within buildings damage or loss thereto by fire will be reduced to a minimum and also avoids the possibility of loss of life through fires, the apparatus being automatic in the working thereof and is novel in the construction of the same.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus of this character, wherein water from a water supply line is admitted to the apparatus so that this water will be distributed within an enclosure over the greater area thereof when a fire breaks out therein and in this manner the fire will be extinguished to minimize the loss through conflagration, both property and life.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus of this character, which is simple in its construction; thoroughly reliable and efiicient in operation, automatically acting, assured of distribution of water about large areas for the extinguishing of fire occurring within buildings or other edifices and inexpensive to manufacture and install.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose the "preferred embodiment of the invention and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through one of the water discharge nozzles of the apparatus.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail elevation of the switch control set up for electric circuits installed or in association with the apparatus.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the apparatus constituting the present invention comprises a horizontally arranged substantially cylindrical shaped body, a portion thereof being indicated at H), and the same is supported overhead within an enclosure, such as a building or other edifice, and is closed at opposite ends at H and 12, respectively. Between these closed ends H and I2 and created interiorly of the body it are the compartments or chambers l3 and I4, respectively, these being separated for independence by a partition i5 built within the body In. Carried within the compartment or chamber I3 is the delivery end of a water supply pipe, a portion thereof being indicated at IG, and is adapted for connection with a water line carrying water under pressure. it delivers water into the compartment or chamber l3 when open thereto in a manner presently described.

Formed with the body l0 and leading from the chamber or compartment I3 is a discharge nipple I! having threaded connection with a coupling union l8 in which is adjustably swiveled a stem I9 fitting an adjusting collar and rising centrally from a hollow rotatable water distributing head 2| from which extend radially hollow arms 22, these being uniformly spaced from each other in their radial disposition about said head 2|, the collar 20 being adjustably threaded in the unio njt and is concentrically about the stem l9 rising from the head 2| so that the head may be vertically raised or lowered for a change of elevation thereof within an enclosure.

Fitted with the arms 22 at the outer ends This pipe 1 thereof are elbow pipes 23 on which are tapped distributor nozzles 24, each having the radially disposed perforated discharge tips 25 angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the said nozzle 24 and from which discharges water for the spraying thereof over a large area.

Slidably fitting the partition l5 within the body Ill in longitudinal axial alignment with the pipe I6 is the stem 26 of, a closure valve 21 adapted to be seated upon the end next thereto of the pipe It for shutting off water discharge therefrom into the chamber or compartment l3. In alignment with the stem 26 of the valve 21 and threaded in the end I2 of the body I0 is a, manually adjustable set screw 28 while between the said stem 26 and the screw 28 within the chamber or compartment H in the body In is a pair of abutting releasable jacks 29, these having overlapped electric heating elements 30 which normally at the overlaps 3| thereof are joined through a fusible medium, such as solder 32, the jacks when in normal position maintain the valve 21 in closing relation to the pipe I6 and seated against the same to prevent water .within this pipe ll entering the chamber or clearance 34 provided in the bottom of the body l0 clearing the gap or space between the stem 26 and the screw 26. In this instance the force of water pressure within the pipe \l6 against the valve 21 causes the opening of the said valve and concurrently water flow from the pipe ll takes place through the chamber or compart ment l3 thence downwardly through the union l8 into the head 2| for distribution through the arms 22, elbows 23 and nozzles 24 for spraying of this water under pressure over a large area within an enclosure such as a building or other edifice for the extinguishing of flre occurring therein.

Mounted in the body ll at the top thereof and also at the vicinity of the chamber or compartment ll are terminal connectors for electric circuit wires 36 and these connectors 35 form hangers 31 for spring contacts or conductors 36 engageable with the elements 30 so that on the closing of an electric circuit through the wires 36, current will pass through the said elements 30 for the heating thereof and the melting of the solder 32 joiningthese elements 30 at the overlap 3| thereof whereby the jacks 29 will become automatically released from between the valve stem l3 and the screw 28 so that the valve 21 will open under water pressure within the pipe l6 for the delivery of water for distribution at the nozzles 24 of the apparatus. The circuit is closed through the wires 36 at any convenient locality inside or outside of a building or edifice through a suitable hand switch (not shown).

Within the compartment or chamber ll concentrically about the stem 26 of the valve 21 and insulated at 33 from the partition I! is a pair of snap switches 40, one being arranged in an electric circuit for sounding an alarm within a fire station (not shown) and the other has arrangement in an electric circuit to a water pump (not shown) for action upon the water within the pipe. ii to augment the pressure thereof and these switches are normally held open. through a wedge block ll fitted to the stem 26 of the valve 21 for holding such switches in open position when the valve 21 is closing the pipe ii to prevent water being fed into the chamber or compartment l3. The instant that the valve 21 opens, the block Ii rides from the switches 46 causing the latter to automaticallyclose and thus completing the electric circuits to the fire station and the pump.

The elbows carrying the nozzles 24 are swiveled at 42 so that the same can be turned for directing the water as may be required on the operation of the apparatus.

The jacks 23 when set are held in set position by the screw 23 so as to normally hold the valve 2! closed with respect to the pipe I! and thus the water supply therefrom will be shut oil. to the nozzles 24.

It is, of course, understood that any number of switches 43 may be assembled for controlling electric circuits far various purposes, that is, the sounding of an audible alarm or for visible signal operation, etc.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus of the kind described comprising a liquid sprinkling device, an elongated cylindrical body having separated chambers, a connection between the sprinkling device and the cylindrical body for establishing communication between one of the chambers and said device, a liquid delivery pipe carried into the chamber having the connection with the said device, a valve closing the liquid delivery pipe and seated thereon interiorly of the chambercommunicating with said device and having a stem carried into the other chamber, a manually adjustable set screw fitting said cylindrical body for alignment with said stem and extended within said other chamber, a pair of jacks for abutting each other within said chamber and held in abutment bythe stem and set screw, heating elements carried by and insulated from the jacks and fusibly joined in overlapped relation to each other, the faces of the jacks being rounded for lateral breaking in one direction sidewise on separation of theheating elements when the overlapped joint therebetween breaks, and means for heating the said elements and having spring contacts engaging said elements at one side of the abutting jacks and retaining the latter in normal abutting relation to each other.

2. An apparatus of the kind described comprising a liquid sprinkling device, on elongated cylindrical body having separated chambers, a connection between the sprinkling device and the cylindrical body for establishing communication between one of the chambers and said device, a liquid delivery pipe carried into the chamber having the connection with the said device, a valve closing the liquid delivery pipe and seated thereon interiorly of the chamber communicating with said device and-having a stem carried into the other chamber, a manually adjustable set screw fitting said cylindrical body for alignment with said stem and extended within said other chamber, a pair of jacks for abutting each other within said chamber and held in abutment by the stem and set screw, heating elements carried by and insulated from the jacks and fusibly joined in overlapped relation to each other, the faces of the jacks being rounded for lateral breaking in one direction sidewise on separation of the heating elements when the overlapped joint'therebetween breaks, means for heating the said elements and having spring contacts engaging said elements at one side of the abutting jacks and retaining the latter in normal abutting relation to each other, and means for extending the connection between the said device and the body for altering the relation thereof.

nocxa. WHEELER. 

